Linux Kernel up to 6.14.1 net/core/dev.c register_netdev privilege escalation

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as problematic has been discovered in Linux Kernel up to 6.14.1. Affected is the function register_netdev of the file net/core/dev.c. Executing a manipulation can lead to an unknown weakness. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2025-22116. There is no exploit available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.14.1 and classified as problematic. This vulnerability affects the function register_netdev of the file net/core/dev.c. The impact remains unknown. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: idpf: check error for register_netdev() on init Current init logic ignores the error code from register_netdev(), which will cause WARN_ON() on attempt to unregister it, if there was one, and there is no info for the user that the creation of the netdev failed. WARNING: CPU: 89 PID: 6902 at net/core/dev.c:11512 unregister_netdevice_many_notify+0x211/0x1a10 ... [ 3707.563641] unregister_netdev+0x1c/0x30 [ 3707.563656] idpf_vport_dealloc+0x5cf/0xce0 [idpf] [ 3707.563684] idpf_deinit_task+0xef/0x160 [idpf] [ 3707.563712] idpf_vc_core_deinit+0x84/0x320 [idpf] [ 3707.563739] idpf_remove+0xbf/0x780 [idpf] [ 3707.563769] pci_device_remove+0xab/0x1e0 [ 3707.563786] device_release_driver_internal+0x371/0x530 [ 3707.563803] driver_detach+0xbf/0x180 [ 3707.563816] bus_remove_driver+0x11b/0x2a0 [ 3707.563829] pci_unregister_driver+0x2a/0x250 Introduce an error check and log the vport number and error code. On removal make sure to check VPORT_REG_NETDEV flag prior to calling unregister and free on the netdev. Add local variables for idx, vport_config and netdev for readability.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2025-22116 since 12/29/2024. The exploitation appears to be easy. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 240558 (Oracle Linux 8 : kernel (ELSA-2025-9580)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.14.2 or 6.15-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 89768e33752211b2240ec4c34138170c95f11f97/680811c67906191b237bbafe7dabbbad64649b39 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (240558) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2025-0844). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Affected

• Google Container-Optimized OS
• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• SUSE openSUSE
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Open Source Linux Kernel
• Dell Avamar
• SolarWinds Security Event Manager
• Dell NetWorker
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway
• IBM QRadar SIEM

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.14.0
• 6.14.1

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Entryinfo

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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